Labor day weekend, a time when most people will either be barbequing, getting their last wear out of their white pants, or heading down to the shore for the final beach weekend of the year. If you’d ask me where I’m heading that weekend my reply would simple, “well to the Zoo of course”. Located on Randall’s Island park in NYC, Electric Zoo is a 3-day, non-stop music festival. Featuring around 100 of the world’s top EDM artists of all genres, this event is not something you want to miss.
You know you’d be lying to yourself if you said you didn’t get overly excited when you were younger and your parents announced they were taking you to the zoo for the day. With so many unique sights and sounds, zoo’s are kind of like a little escape from reality when you think about it. You walk in, a worker hands you a map and suddenly you’re in a complete different world. Simple grass has been transformed into ‘The Great Plains’ and cars are now ‘Safari Convoys’ taking you on journeys through the ‘Jungle’. Electric Zoo is no different. Stages will be your exhibits, artists your animals, and their music your guide. There will still be very unique sights, and most certainly incredible sounds. So get ready to escape into a zoo world that is sure to be like nothing you’ve ever experienced. Because when a zoo gets electrified, who knows what can happen….
An important thing to remember about this special type of Zoo is that there is no map, or set path you must follow. Allow yourself to wander from exhibit to exhibit, and be sure to take some time to relax on all the Great Plains Randall’s Island has to offer. We have just given you a slight taste of some of the animals that will be coming out to play on the first day, and can only hope you embark on your journey with an open mind from the start. Like any 3-day adventure, remember to pace yourself, this is only day one…
The Guetta
Exhibit One: House of the Big Bears (Main Stage)
Warning: Do not enter if unprepared to dance, sweat, and rage.Bears. A popular, main attraction at any zoo. Powerful and loud, you could feel their presence from a mile away. Step one foot into the Bear’s territory and you’ll instantly learn you are no longer in control. Here you will find a younger species of bears known as The Lux; The Lux migrated from Sweden and is your classic brown furred bear that seems to get along well with The Rebeccas. Trying to separate the two is considered in some states a “Teenage Crime.” The Lux’s presence can make one feel “Alive,” maybe even on “Fire.”
Another bear that comes out when the sun goes down and the sky begins to darken is known as The Hardwell. The Hardwell’s seems to have “Cobra”-like attitude “Encoded” into their genes. The Hardwell looks different, acts different, and even sounds different. One look at The Hardwell and you will be asking your friend, “boy, doesn’t it seem like we are in ‘space, man’?”
Also in the bear realm we have The Guettas. Because of their “Little Bad Girl” attitude we have self proclaimed them as the “She Wolves” in the House of the Big Bears (Don’t worry about hurting The Guetta’s feelings- they seem to be bulletproof, almost as strong as “Titanium”). The Guetta has helped many other species grow and evolve to what they have become today. The Guetta- what would we do “Without You”?
The Tony, The Jono and The Paavo
Exhibit Two: Butterfly Gardens (Group Therapy)
Warning: Do not enter unless you are prepared to undergo a mental and physical transformation.
As you enter the Butterfly Gardens you will immediately be undertaken by the euphoric vibes that these beautiful butterflies give off. You will notice that every butterfly looks incredibly similar but is unique in its own special way. If you hit a “Lucky Strike”, while in the Butterfly Gardens one might be able to look towards “The Sky” and see a rare “Bipolar” butterfly known as the Mat Zo. Because of its progressive stages from a caterpillar to a butterfly the Mat Zo is said to make you feel like you are in a “Recurring Dream,” maybe even “Back In Time.”
Another popular butterfly that one will only see “Twice In A Blue Moon” is the Ferry Corsten. The Corsten has been nominated for many awards among the Zoo animals. It is said to be the best of its kind- an elitist among the butterflies. We often time warn visitors to not stare at The Corsten for too long- it may put you in a trance making one transform into quite a “Brute.”
Looking Above and Beyond the other butterflies we are left with one small group but categorized into three smaller groups known as The Tony, The Jono and The Paavo. These three were placed among the top 5 among the entire animal kingdom in 2011. These beautiful creatures are living proof that it is “Small Moments Like These” that you will always remember. Although you will only be able to spot The Tony, Jono and Paavo when the Sun goes down and the Moon comes out. But once they do come out many may ask themselves, “Am I On My Way To Heaven?”
The A-Trak and The Dillon Francis
Exhibit Three: The Congo Gorilla Forest (Fools Gold Tent)
Warning: Enter at your own risk.
We did not have to travel far to capture our wildest Gorilla in the forest- stemming from Western America we present The Dillon Francis. The Dillon Francis has that “I Don’t Give A Fuck or Shit” attitude- but hey, wouldn’t you if you were born and raised in Los Angeles? The Francis is also known for its incredibly flawless fur- there is an old myth that the Zoo has hired some sort of “Beautician“ to style it. Who knows, but one thing that is for certain- The Francis’s fur is “Money Makin’”.
The Congo Gorilla Forest inhibits species from all over- one special gorilla we brought back from Australia is known as The Tommy Trash. The Trash is notoriously known for its wild fur among the Gorillas- we often times joke that he is going for that “Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll” look. The Trash has that electric flare that you would expect from an Aussie native.
Which brings us to one of our favorites of The Congo Gorilla Forest; The A-trak. We warn our visitors to distance themselves from The A-trak- because of his long claws he is known to scratch quite a bit. A-trak seems to be a leader in The Congo Gorilla Forest; the owner of the land. Because The A-Trak is one of a kind he is given special privileges and even a separate meal plan than the other gorillas- we add a special sauce to his meal (we, at the zoo, call it the Duck Sauce). And although The A-Trak has the same “Money Makin’” mentality as The Francis they seem to differentiate in the “Beautician“ category.
Luciano
Exhibit Four: The World of Darkness (The Vagabounds- Sunday School)
Warning: Do not enter with a closed mind.
While a little scary, sometimes one must adventure down a road less traveled by. It is easy for all of us to just remain where we are comfortable. Comfortable with what we are seeing, comfortable with what we are hearing, and close our mind to anything outside of this. This is okay of course, but after a while you may find yourself searching for something more, urning to know what else is out there. And it’s at this moment you will find yourself at the entrance to The World of Darkness.
Now don’t be fooled. The creatures that live in this underground realm have not been hidden, nor are they new and undiscovered. Perhaps its just until now, you never knew where to look to find them. In this realm things are simple, minimal if you will. Here everything is in its most organic form, just the animals and their sounds. But no two are alike, as each has found its own platform to stand on.
This world is home to one known as Luciano. Well respected, he has grown to stand out as a father figure among the others. Not one to sit still, Luciano could be described as a very emotional, passionate, and high-energy creature: in the best way possible. As you watch him bounce around, you are sure to fall victim under his spell and find yourself doing the exact same. Raw emotion is the driving force here. While you may have been tentative to enter at first, It is likely you will become captivated here, and find yourself looking to see what else it has to offer.
It won’t take much searching, as Argy has too made a name for himself here. Unlike any creature you could have even “Envisioned,” Argy is deep, passionate, and compelling. He draws you in with his sensual, yet heavy sounds and takes your body on a journey bringing you to a “Higher Point” than you ever believed you could have reached. Do not fear losing yourself in this word, because sometimes we must explore the darkness in order to see the light.
